Visits to Wanganui
Wab 794 Visit, June 14th 2015
Feilding Steam Rail visited Wanganui with their Steam loco WAB 794. SRW was asked to help out with crowd control, a sausage sizzle and shed open to the public. The loco was serviced and readied for it’s run to Ruatangata (Whangaehu) for the Wanganui Public leaving at 12pm. On this run Blair was asked to help fire the loco and he had a quick change into his overalls, black shirt with white tie and cap (this was to access where Blair was at with his steam training). The train returned at 2pm from Ruatangata and Blair’s tie was still white. The loco was again serviced and turned on the turntable before leaving on time at 3pm for Feilding. SRW members were offered a ride to East Town and Mark, Hamish and Colin took up the offer. Thanks to Ross for bringing them back to our yard. Thank you to Natalie and Amanda for operating the BBQ and to all members who helped out during the day and a big thank you to the Feilding group for including us in their plans, they were very happy with our help and a great day was had by all. Written by Colin Hughes, photos by Colin, Kylie Jordan, Cameron Persson and Charley Masters.
Silver Fern (RM30) Visit
On March 1st & 2nd 2015 The Silver Fern Railcar (RM 30) visited Wanganui on an excursion from Auckland. It left New Plymouth at 8.55am and dropped off passengers in Hawera for a visit to the Tawhiti Museum. It then proceeded to Waverley to drop off the passengers who travelled by bus to Wanganui. The railcar then travelled to Wanganui empty with stowaway Des Huddleston on board arriving in town at 4.45pm. It was stabled on the gantry line and SRW was hired again to do the security overnight. On Monday morning after loading luggage and the passengers the railcar left at 9.20am for National Park. Thank you to all members who helped out with the security and loading of the railcar. Written by Colin Hughes and photos taken by Colin and Kylie Jordan.
AB 663 in Wanganui for Vintage Weekend.
As part of the Wanganui Vintage weekend (January 17th and 18th 2015) Mainline Steam's AB 663 was in town giving rides to the Wanganui Public. SRW was hired to do the security over night. See the full story about the weekend in the Happening page of this web site. Photos taken by Colin Hughes, Charley Masters.
Da
1431 Visit To Wanganui
As part of Steam Inc's Heartland Rail Tour 2014, Da 1431 hauled a 6 car consist to New Plymouth on Friday 31st of October for a long weekend of rail trips. On Saturday the 1st of November the Da ran a trip from Breakwater (New Plymouth port) down through Stratford and out on the Kapuni Branch.
On Sunday the 2nd of November the Da headed from New Plymouth to Wanganui on a day trip. The trip did a brief stop at East Town to let some passengers off for a bus trip brfore heading down the branch into Wanganui arriving at midday. The Da was then turned on the turntable.
SRW members were again asked to help with crowd control and help passengers on and off the train with the use of the SRW steps. It turned out that a couple of the carriages were running low on water for the toilets etc and SRW came to the rescue with a long hose to fill them up. SRW are always there to help any excursion that turns up.
The excursion was due to leave at 2.45pm and SRW members who helped out on the day were offered a ride to East Town to thank them for all their help, which we duly took up (young Keegan had a grin from ear to ear when he found out we were having a ride). After waiting at the start of the Wanganui Branch for a North bound milk train (DL and DFB powered) to pass through Aramoho we arrived at East Town and waited for the loco to run around its train before leaving for New Plymouth at 3.45pm.
Thank you to SRW members who helped out on the day and to Steam Inc for the ride to East Town and lets not forget the 3 (Sandra, Lloryian and Kylie) who drove their cars across to East Town to bring us back to the SRW shed.
Written by Colin Hughes. Photos taken by Charley Masters and Kylie Jordan
As part of Steam Inc's Heartland Rail Tour 2014, Da 1431 hauled a 6 car consist to New Plymouth on Friday 31st of October for a long weekend of rail trips. On Saturday the 1st of November the Da ran a trip from Breakwater (New Plymouth port) down through Stratford and out on the Kapuni Branch.
On Sunday the 2nd of November the Da headed from New Plymouth to Wanganui on a day trip. The trip did a brief stop at East Town to let some passengers off for a bus trip brfore heading down the branch into Wanganui arriving at midday. The Da was then turned on the turntable.
SRW members were again asked to help with crowd control and help passengers on and off the train with the use of the SRW steps. It turned out that a couple of the carriages were running low on water for the toilets etc and SRW came to the rescue with a long hose to fill them up. SRW are always there to help any excursion that turns up.
The excursion was due to leave at 2.45pm and SRW members who helped out on the day were offered a ride to East Town to thank them for all their help, which we duly took up (young Keegan had a grin from ear to ear when he found out we were having a ride). After waiting at the start of the Wanganui Branch for a North bound milk train (DL and DFB powered) to pass through Aramoho we arrived at East Town and waited for the loco to run around its train before leaving for New Plymouth at 3.45pm.
Thank you to SRW members who helped out on the day and to Steam Inc for the ride to East Town and lets not forget the 3 (Sandra, Lloryian and Kylie) who drove their cars across to East Town to bring us back to the SRW shed.
Written by Colin Hughes. Photos taken by Charley Masters and Kylie Jordan
AB
608 Passchendaele
On 19th of October 2014 beautifully restored Steam Locomotive AB 608 "Passchendaele" plus eight carriages visited Wanganui from Steam Inc Paekakariki arriving at 2pm. The loco is named in rememberance of the famous World War One battle in which many Kiwi's fought and lots lost their lives.
A large crowd watched as they serviced the loco (taking more water and coal) and then turned the loco on the turntable. They then did a run out the Castlecliff Branch with a few Wanganui public taking a ride.
It arrived back at around 3.45pm and was met by members of the 5WWCT Pipe Band Society, all resplendent in their kilts and Highland band uniforms. The band played a selection of songs concluding with The road to Passchendaele as the train departed. The band received warm rounds of applause after each song from the visitors and the public.
Thank you to the 5WWCT Pipe Band including SRW member Ross Duncan who arranged the bands visit. Steam Inc members have mentioned how good it was and they would also like to thank all SRW members who were there to help on the day with crowd control and helping passengers on and off the train with our steps.
Written by Colin Hughes. Photos taken by Charley Masters and Colin Hughes.
On 19th of October 2014 beautifully restored Steam Locomotive AB 608 "Passchendaele" plus eight carriages visited Wanganui from Steam Inc Paekakariki arriving at 2pm. The loco is named in rememberance of the famous World War One battle in which many Kiwi's fought and lots lost their lives.
A large crowd watched as they serviced the loco (taking more water and coal) and then turned the loco on the turntable. They then did a run out the Castlecliff Branch with a few Wanganui public taking a ride.
It arrived back at around 3.45pm and was met by members of the 5WWCT Pipe Band Society, all resplendent in their kilts and Highland band uniforms. The band played a selection of songs concluding with The road to Passchendaele as the train departed. The band received warm rounds of applause after each song from the visitors and the public.
Thank you to the 5WWCT Pipe Band including SRW member Ross Duncan who arranged the bands visit. Steam Inc members have mentioned how good it was and they would also like to thank all SRW members who were there to help on the day with crowd control and helping passengers on and off the train with our steps.
Written by Colin Hughes. Photos taken by Charley Masters and Colin Hughes.
Ja 1271 runs out to Castlecliff
17 November 2013
Steam Incorporated brought Ja 1271 up from Wellington on a days excursion. While in Wanganui they did a run for the locals out on the Castlecliff Branch. This is believed to be the first time a Ja class has run out to Castlecliff (members might be able to confirm this). SteamRail Wanganui helped out with crowd control and selling tickets to the public. While out on the branch the train was held up briefly by a car accident
when a car rolled next to the track in Taupo Quay. Photos by Charley Masters and Colin Hughes
AB 663 Weekend Visit To Wanganui
27th & 28th Of April 2013
1
As the last newsletter went to press at the end of April Wanganui was getting a visit from AB 663. This was a joint venture by Mainline Steam and Feilding and District Steam Rail Society.
On the morning of Saturday the 27th of April the Ab travelled from Feilding to Wanganui's Taupo Quay Yard getting here around lunch time. It then did 2 trips for the Wanganui public. The first one was to East Town and back to Taupo Quay Yard. The second one was out on the Castlecliff Branch and back. This was the first time a steam excursion had been out to Castlecliff since the 1989 excursion by F 163. It was also the first time a member of the Ab class had been out on that branch since the end of Steam on the old NZR in the late 1950's early 60's in the Wanganui area.
The excursion stayed overnight in Wanganui. SteamRail Wanganui was involved the whole weekend as well. We helped with crowd control and we were also hired (for a donation) to be Security Guards, guarding the train for the night.
On Sunday the 28th the train again did a trip for the Wanganui public, taking people for a ride to Kai Iwi and back. It was a full load behind for the Ab as it climbed the bank and reports from the train chasers said it sounded great. When it got back to town the loco was turned and serviced before heading back to Feilding. This was a great weekend had by all and we have been told that both Mainline Steam and Feilding and District Steam Rail are looking at doing it again in the near future.
Written by Blair Jordan, photos taken by Charlie Masters (1), Blair Jordan (2), Janet Weir (3) and Colin Hughes (4 - 7).
On the morning of Saturday the 27th of April the Ab travelled from Feilding to Wanganui's Taupo Quay Yard getting here around lunch time. It then did 2 trips for the Wanganui public. The first one was to East Town and back to Taupo Quay Yard. The second one was out on the Castlecliff Branch and back. This was the first time a steam excursion had been out to Castlecliff since the 1989 excursion by F 163. It was also the first time a member of the Ab class had been out on that branch since the end of Steam on the old NZR in the late 1950's early 60's in the Wanganui area.
The excursion stayed overnight in Wanganui. SteamRail Wanganui was involved the whole weekend as well. We helped with crowd control and we were also hired (for a donation) to be Security Guards, guarding the train for the night.
On Sunday the 28th the train again did a trip for the Wanganui public, taking people for a ride to Kai Iwi and back. It was a full load behind for the Ab as it climbed the bank and reports from the train chasers said it sounded great. When it got back to town the loco was turned and serviced before heading back to Feilding. This was a great weekend had by all and we have been told that both Mainline Steam and Feilding and District Steam Rail are looking at doing it again in the near future.
Written by Blair Jordan, photos taken by Charlie Masters (1), Blair Jordan (2), Janet Weir (3) and Colin Hughes (4 - 7).
Steam Incorporated Visit, part of the VCC Rally 22 January 2012
As part of the Vintage Car Clubs of New Zealand rally held in Wanganui Steam Inc with Ja 1271 came up from Wellington for the Public Open Day at the Wanganui Racecourse.
Steam Incorporated visit to Wanganui with the Lions Fund Raiser 19 March 2011
Steam Inc and the Lions Club ran a trip to Wanganui to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. While here it did a trip from Taupo Quay Yard out to East Town and back for the Wanganui Public.
Wab Visits Wanganui for the Night 19 October 2010
As part of a Steam Incorporated Trip the Wab 794 loco from the Feilding Steam Rail group spent the night in Wanganui. SteamRail Wanganui got hired to guard this train overnight in the Aramoho Rail Yard.
